The Leader of West Sussex County Council Henry Smith has called on the Government to provide more funds for road maintenance.
The recent severe weather has caused considerable damage to the county’s roads including a dramatic increase in the number of potholes.
The County Council is already putting £2.35 million towards the cost of repairs. However, early estimates suggest considerably more cash will be needed.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, Henry says: “It cannot have escaped your notice that following the recent extreme weather local authorities up and down the country are now battling to deal with the damage to highway surfaces that the snow and ice have caused.
“In West Sussex, we have prioritised highway conditions for many years and the results of our investment have been obvious. At the end of last year the Audit Commission data for NI168 (condition of principal roads) showed that roads in West Sussex are the best in the country.
“All that hard work and investment is being undone by the impact of the winter weather.”
The County Council is working hard to repair potholes and currently has 30 teams repairing approximately 500 holes per day. Once a pothole is reported the County Council aims to repair it within 28 days and for urgent defects on A and B roads within three working days.
The repair teams are being directed to the routes where the greatest numbers of dangerous holes exist. Repairs are listed and worked through in the order they are reported, however, potholes that have reached a depth of 100mm and holes on A and B roads are prioritised as they carry a greater flow of traffic.
In his letter Henry goes on to say: “West Sussex has remained grossly underfunded. For nearly a decade we have received the minimum increases in grant and our capital investment programmes have been equally badly treated when it comes to Government support. It is now time for the Government to recognise our plight and to provide additional much-needed funding to help us deal with the impact of the extreme weather conditions.”
The County Council is advising motorists to drive with extreme caution whilst the potholes are being repaired.
People can report potholes by calling 01243 642105.